I had several opportunities to know “Herb” Mueller personally with my many trips to LCMS headquarters in St. Louis and lunch together after a colloquy committee meeting in Ohio. A true pastor-at-heart, scholar and churchman, he served as the first vice-president of the LCMS as well as the president of the Southern Illinois District and as a parish pastor. His retirement was necessitated by a pathology report of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a grade IV tumor, and he soon began work on a book that in his own words sought to “give faithful testimony to the apostolic witness of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead . . . that God will use these reflections for His good purposes.” His desire was to leave a legacy of faith and hope for his family. Herb was unable to bring his book to fruition, as our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ gave Herb a blessed end in March of 2020.
This book continues the task that Herb had begun. Written in loving memory of his life and service to the church the contributors include friends and colleagues as well as family members — a son, two brothers, and a nephew. Throughout the book are selected notes of Herb’s own writing. This volume brings the comforting consolation, promise, hope, and joy of Jesus’ resurrection to the reader.
The topics were drawn from Herb’s “chapter list” of topics into a fourfold grouping into a “Biblical Witness” section; a “True Teaching” section that connects the resurrection with other doctrinal topics; a “Defending the Faith” section and its apologetics emphasis; and a “Joy of Life essays that deal with life within the church. The final essay of the book was Herb’s famous and powerful essay to the 2019 LCMS Convention: “Joy:Fully Lutheran: Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks.” President Matthew Harrison starts the book off with his funeral sermon for Herb delivered on March 25, 2020.
This book is probably one of the best compilations of the doctrine and defense of the resurrection that I have read for a long time. Yes, the resurrection changes everything because it is true and it grants eternal life to all who believe. Without a true bodily resurrection from the dead, Christianity makes no sense at all. These essays exemplify Herb’s confession of the faith once delivered to the saints. Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Master!
Gary W. Zieroth
Associate Pastor, Ascension Lutheran Church
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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